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Sandy,
Here's my thoughts. I'm pasting something that I sent to another person about my experience w/ the Sport Saddle (SS) - not very favorable. I noticed that you had questions about the Big Horn, too. Remember to concentrate on what fits the horse first, then about what you prefer. Your riding style is more adaptable than the horse's back. Bad saddle fit can literally cripple him.
I am a HW rider - the SS did NOT work for me. There are some inherent bad designs in this "saddle" that require a lot of finagling to make it work for the longer rides.
There is a solid cantle & pommel on the SS. This is what the rigging and stirrups attach to. If you do a lot of 2 point (standing), there WILL be pressure on these two solid pieces. If they don't happen to match your horse's conformation you still get dry spots (or worse). If you should do some slow rides with lots of sitting (pleasure rides w/ non-endurance friends) the horses tend to show soreness under your seat bones.
Don't even bother with the girth supplied with the SS - throw it away & get something good. Galling is a universal complaint with that felt girth.
The stirrup "leathers" are actually bulky nylon with a leather tube over them. They are irritating! Lots of folks are switching these out for biothane or australian saddles' leathers. The bulk of the SS "leathers" are irritating to my knees and they rubbed.
The most irritating aspect of this saddle for me was the side flaps that cover the stirrup hanger area. They bunched up and rubbed horribly under my upper thigh. I was told to try a "youth cut" - no better. I've seen folks sew them down, velcro them down, cut them off - and still not be happy.
Last complaint is that the stirrups and girth are too far forward. SS could easily make an adjustable rigging that could go from center fire to full, but they are not interested in trying. The stirrups are set forward as though it is a roping saddle rather than in a centered, balanced position for endurance. (The originator made Western Saddles.) If you get one, be sure that the stirrups are back 3/4-1" if you want to be balanced standing to a trot.
I sold my SS and found a more traditional saddle that fit my horse. I consider the purchase of my SS an expensive lesson that I wouldn't want to repeat. I haven't had any experience with the Big Horn, but like any saddle the tree needs to fit the horse. I'd try to find one locally to try for fit. If you aren't comfortable with assessing saddle fit, ask the tack store to help you.
Good luck finding the saddle that you want!
Linda Flemmer
-----Original Message-----
From: SANDYSROB@aol.com [mailto:SANDYSROB@aol.com]
Does anyone use this saddle? I need some infomation from anyone who does
pros. and cons. I'm considering getting one after setting on one for a few
minutes it sure was comfortable, the owner had a skito equalizer pad under
it, no saddle tree sticking you in the seat bones, the only thing I noticed
was the position of the stirrups didn't seem right to me, the owner had them
in the center position and felt to far back for me??? Any info. would be
appriciated, reply privately if this subject has been talked to death before.
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